what I have to say, but he isn’t making a move. Whatever I say next affects everyone here in so many ways. For once, I hold all the cards, and this power is not something I want to have.
“If we stay, are you going to keep me locked in your room?” I direct the question to Nycto.
His nostrils flare as he exhales. Finally showing some kind of emotion, he steps toward us. “Are you going to try to leave the compound?”
Glancing at Ivy, she shakes her head. “No, not unless you tell us we can.”
The corner of his lips turns up. “Then, no, I won’t lock you in my room. You’ll be free to roam around like Ivy.”
Excitement bubbles inside of me. “Where’s Ivy sleeping?”
Her eyes widen as they dart back to the cell-like room.
“We have a spare room upstairs she can use—”
“I want to stay down here!” Her adamant tone cuts through Nycto’s words.
We both raise our brows as she pleads, “Please.”
Nycto rolls his shoulders. “Are you sure about that? This is not built for living, more… keeping in people in transit.”
“I know, but I like it. It’s my own little bubble for now. I can come up and see everyone when I’m tired of my bubble.”
My stomach knots suddenly. If I’m able to come and go as I please, does that mean I’m going to be in a different room? Is my time in Nycto’s bedroom now over? “And… where’s my room going to be?”
Nycto frowns, worry lines appear across his face. “You’re staying in my room, Chiquita. Don’t think for a second you’re sleeping anywhere else.”
His firm attitude should anger me, but all it does is ignite a fire inside my soul. My whole body begins to throb, and my stomach clenches as I stare at him. His eyes bore into mine, the color of hot chocolate during a snowstorm, wrapping around me like the tightest embrace. The heat? It is like it’s 115 degrees down here, just from his intense gaze. The way Nycto demands what he wants only makes me want to stay.
He turns me into a puddle in a matter of seconds with his harsh tone and glare. No one has ever been able to do that before.
Ivy drops her hands from mine, causing me to snap out of my Nycto delirium. Ivy shifts her gaze from Nycto to me and back at Nycto. “I think it’s a good thing we’re staying, Eva.”
Clearing my throat, I tilt my head. “You do?”
“I do. Now, c’mon… come check out my digs.” She turns, heading for her cell.
My eyes meet Nycto’s quickly before I turn, following her into the strange room. It’s like a little hotel suite, but I don’t miss the pole around the middle of the room with a chain attached to it.
What the hell is that about?
I choose not to ask.
If I don’t ask, I can’t be told an answer I don’t like.
Ivy makes her way over to the bed and sits down. I follow, moving in beside her.
Nycto signals to Void. “We’ll let you girls get reacquainted. We will be upstairs when you’re ready to come back out. I’m gonna send out Pep to buy you both a new wardrobe.”
“You’re buying us clothes?” I ask.
“Can’t have you wearing my underwear, woman.”
Void scrunches his face up at Nycto like he had no idea.
“Thanks,” Ivy calls out.
“Yes, thank you.”
Nycto dips his chin, then they take off for the stairs leaving me with Ivy.
I inhale, smiling at her. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. We’ve established we’ve missed each other. It’s good we’re both here. Let’s move on from that—”
“What?”
“You need to spill the beans.”
“About what?”
“Not about what… about who. You and Nycto, sis. I saw that. Don’t tell me you don’t feel something for him because it was written all over your face and body just now.”
It’s like nothing has changed between Ivy and me. She’s been taken captive, rescued by bikers, and she wants to talk about my love life?
“We have far more pressing issues to talk about, Ivy. Like where were you taken? Who had you? What happened while you were there?”
She groans. “Seriously, Eva, nothing happened. I was taken the same night as you. Transported to some fancy-as-shit house, locked in a bedroom by some old fart who said he had plans for me, but, luckily, they never did because Nycto and the guys came in shooting up the mansion to high hell and rescued me.”
My eyes widen. “Nycto came